Brian Bilbray: “after the tragedy of 9/11, the 9/11 Commission came forth with some very distinct recommendations. And one of their most…”

“after the tragedy of 9/11, the 9/11 Commission came forth with some very distinct recommendations. And one of their most distinct recommendations was that we need to have a secure minimum standard for identification within the United States. The REAL ID bill was our answer to that and it was a bipartisan effort to make sure that we correct a deficiency that was identified by the 9/11 Commission. My amendment is very clear. It strikes $150 million out of the integrated Deepwater system program which has been identified with major problems, moves it over to a program that we all admit is underfunded and needs to be addressed and aids in the implementation of this most essential program. All it says is that we now are going to commit $150 million to the program which will raise it up to $200 million to help our States fulfill their responsibility to provide viable, verifiable identification for every American and every legal resident within the United States. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.”